Congratulations to Kiana Pearson - 2024 Amanda Hill Young Breeders Incentive Grant Recipient
Kiana Pearson (center) surrounded by family and friends - Photo courtesy of Shane Shiflet Photography
Lexington, Kentucky: The American Morgan Horse Educational Charitable Trust (AMHECT) proudly announces that Kiana Pearson of Ballston Spa, New York, has been awarded the 2024 Amanda Hill Young Breeders Incentive Grant. Kiana was chosen from a pool of ten exceptional candidates.
The Amanda Hill Young Breeders Incentive Grant celebrates the memory of Amanda Hill and her connection with the equine industry. Amanda was a long time Morgan owner, exhibitor, and breeder whose passion for the Morgan horse was highlighted in her volunteer work across the Morgan industry.
Young Morgan breeders have dreams, and this grant is offered to help them achieve those dreams. It may be awarded annually to a young AMHA member (under the age of 40) who is developing a breeding program intended to strengthen the quality of the Morgan breed. Amanda had a vision that recognized the need for younger generations to develop and continue these breeding programs so that the love of the Morgan horse could be shared from generation to generation.
Kiana has been a Morgan enthusiast for over 12 years now – more than half of her life - and is embarking on her long-dreamed-of breeding program in the spring of 2025. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of such amazing breeding programs of Dragonsmeade, Ledyard, and more, Kiana envisions solidifying the foundation bloodlines to produce Morgans with wonderful conformation, temperament, and intelligence. She plans to develop a solid, enduring program and advocate that breeders protect their Morgans for their lifetimes. Already in pursuit of her Veterinary Medicine Degree, Kiana plans to, in many ways, give back as much to the Morgan as it has given to her over the years.
On Thursday evening at the New England Regional Morgan Horse Show in Northampton, Massachusetts, Kiana was presented with her check for $2,500 by AMHA President Steven Handy, Paula Kimball (Amanda’s mother), Matthew Hill (Amanda’s brother), family and friends.
Congratulations to our 2024 Amanda Hill Young Breeders Incentive Grant recipient, Kiana Pearson! We look forward to welcoming your Morgans into our family!
